SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be making a two-day visit starting on Saturday (Oct 19) to Jakarta, where he will attend the second inauguration of Mr Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as Indonesian president.

During his visit, Mr Lee will personally offer his congratulations to Mr Widodo, said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement.

The PMO added that Mr Lee will reaffirm Singapore’s commitment to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries, including through the various areas of cooperation discussed at the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat on Oct 8.

During the retreat at the Istana, the two leaders discussed ways to further cooperation in economic, sociocultural and security matters, and welcomed an agreed framework to discuss longstanding bilateral issues on airspace management and military training.

They also oversaw the inking of a deal that would facilitate the exchange of electronic data for trade, and a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between the National Archives of both Singapore and Indonesia.

During his visit to Jakarta, Mr Lee will be accompanied by his wife Ho Ching, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, and officials from the PMO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will be the Acting Prime Minister in Mr Lee’s absence.